Bradford sets the benchmark for good secondary school improvement, according to Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw.
At the annual conference of the Assistant Directors of Children's Services, Sir Michael, Chief Inspector of Schools, was outlining how best to raise standards and said: “The best authorities confront the crucial issues of standards head-on.
“Secondary schools in some authorities – Bradford is one example – have created their own school improvement organisation.
“That has been done with the blessing of the local authority, drawing on the expertise of inspectors to establish their peer review system.
“They see it has their duty to make sure that all schools are part of the same family delivering high-quality provision for all children.
“They’re working with the grain of greater autonomy for both maintained schools and academies.”
Sir Michael was referring to the Bradford Partnership which was set up in July 2011 to support secondary schools in the district. The Partnership’s main aim is the elimination of under-performance in schools through shared commitment and action.
Schools are continuously under review so any weak performers can be quickly helped out
In response, Councillor Ralph Berry said: “I am very pleased Sir Michael cited Bradford as a model of good practice for school improvement at the conference.
“As he explained, the Council fully supported the development of the Bradford Partnership. Over the past two years, the partnership has developed a key role with secondary schools and is working effectively with school improvement officers within the Local Authority.
David Horn, head teacher at Beckfoot School, chairs the Bradford Partnership.
He said: “Sir Michael’s comments are very welcome and it is good for us and the district as a whole that the quality work of the Bradford Partnership was singled out for praise by the Chief Inspector.”
As reported in the Telegraph & Argus last week, Bradford’s education system was also given a vote of confidence with the announcement of £15.86m to build a new secondary school and expand primary and special schools in areas suffering from a pressure on places.
No site has yet been identified for the proposed 1,050-place secondary school, which will be a sponsored academy, but it is expected to be located in East or West Bowling.